Dr Paul Watts graduated from the University of Bristol in 1995 with a first class B.Sc. in chemistry. He continued his studies at Bristol, obtaining a Ph.D. in bio-organic natural product chemistry in 1999. His Ph.D. focussed on the synthesis of isotopically labelled compounds, for use in determination of biosynthetic pathways to polyketide-derived natural products.

Dr Paul subsequently worked as a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Hull, where he pioneered organic synthesis in micro reactors. In February 2002, he was appointed as a lecturer at the University of Hull, in August 2007 was promoted to the position of Senior Lecture and then further promoted to Reader in Organic Chemistry in May 2009. He now leads the micro reactor and flow technology group where the research has resulted in the publication of over 100 highly cited papers in peer reviewed journals on the topic of continuous flow organic synthesis, in addition to other publications and book chapters.

In 2005, Dr Watts initiated a joint venture with Lionix BV (Netherlands) to commercialise the technology, which has resulted in the formation of Chemtrix BV. Dr Watts had a part time secondment to work with the company in the role of Chief Technology Officer.